The exit wound in the
side of a badger shot by criminals. The marksman had aimed
where the official guidance instructs: through the heart and
lungs but avoiding the shoulder blade. This is the result of
Coalition policy. Picture by Irene Brierton.

The
Badger Trust as well as other agencies depends on the
vigilance of the public to verify whether the killing is
being carried out effectively, humanely and safely. However,
the Trust emphasises that no one should put themselves at
risk or commit trespass or any other illegal act.

Please
phone 0775 173 1107 with any information.

A SHOT BADGER has been
found with both entry and exit wounds typical of a rifle
bullet. It is a graphic example of what the Coalition will be
inflicting in England [1] as badgers face judicial murder in a
misguided attempt to control bovine tuberculosis. The Badger
Trust has always feared that official culling would be taken
as a licence for anyone to kill badgers illegally.

At the same time Secret
World Wildlife Rescue of Highbridge, Somerset has produced a
protocol [2] to advise anyone finding dead or injured badgers
in the killing areas. It covers the effects of rifle shots and
describes signs that would show they had not been killed as
cleanly as Natural England stipulates. It would be
particularly important to report any badgers that had survived
rifle shots because they should be counted under the
regulations [3] and properly disposed of.

Irene Brierton, chairman
of the Mid Derbyshire Badger Group was alerted by a local
resident, who found the shot badger beside a public footpath
in the Cromford Moor/Wirksworth area near Matlock. There was
an entry hole on one side and a vet found an exit wound on the
other just where it would be under Natural England’s guidance
to shooters for the forthcoming round of killing. Mrs Brierton
saw fresh tyre tracks typical of those left by “lampers”
illegally hunting badgers with high powered spotlights and
rifles. This badger had clearly been the victim of a criminal
act. Derbyshire police are looking into the incident and ask
the public to report anyone acting suspiciously.

Papers detailing
discussions between the Association of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) and officials at the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have now been released under the
Freedom of Information Act. Detective Chief Superintendent
Adrian Tudway, ACPO's coordinator for domestic extremism, said
farmers and landowners culling badgers with firearms (of any
description) had potential to place armed farm workers in the
near vicinity of protesters and activists, typically during
the night-time. This was regarded as a scenario with clear
potential for harm to public safety and some potential for
unlawful direct action, disorder and criminality.

The Secret World protocol
[2] covers gathering essential clinical data on the spot and
the need for photographs, working with vets, the value of
x-rays and freezing carcases. Examination forms are provided,
with information about where to send them. Any stored frozen
badgers will be collected at a later date and full post-mortem
examinations carried out as necessary, in a safe environment,
using standardised procedures.